Explosives, guns seized at Trumbull home

Daniel Tepfer

Updated 7:35 pm, Thursday, February 13, 2014

TRUMBULL -- Police on Wednesday seized explosives and weapons in a raid on a home being rented out by a retired Westport deputy police chief.

Eric Rogers, 39, who had been renting the Linley Road home, was charged with six counts of illegal possession of an explosive device and was being held in lieu of $100,000 bond pending arraignment Thursday at Superior Court in Bridgeport.

Neighbors said Rogers and his wife had been renting the house. They said Rogers and his wife kept to themselves and did not appear to work outside the home.

Police sources said they had received reports of Rogers acting erratically, walking around with a bow and arrow and telling people he had explosives.

Police served a search-and-seizure warrant after receiving information that Rogers possessed what was described as several half sticks of dynamite, said Lt. Leonard Scinto.

Police entered the home Wednesday about 10:30 a.m. and seized six M-1000s, several rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, he said. The State Police Emergency Services Unit took possession of the explosive devices.

Police said it appears Rogers had the guns legally, but the investigation is continuing.

On July 22, police said, Rogers was visibly intoxicated and was belligerent toward a food vendor at the Westport Arts Festival. Police said he refused to leave the festival in the Parker Harding Plaza and became increasingly aggressive toward officers called to quell the disturbance. Rogers was eventually subdued by several officers who used a stun gun on him, police said.

Rogers was charged with assault on an officer, breach of peace, and interfering with an officer. That case is pending in Norwalk Superior Court.